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p1|p2|…

is a pattern object that represents any of the patterns pi.

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Alternatives

p1|p2|…

is a pattern object that represents any of the patterns pi.

Details

  • If a named pattern such as x_ appears in pi that are not used in a particular match, then any occurrences of that named pattern will be deleted from the right-hand side of any replacement rule.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (2)

Replace instances of either a or b:

Wolfram Language code: {a, b, c, d, a, b, b, b} /. a | b -> x

Specify a function for several argument types:

Wolfram Language code: f[x_Integer | x_Real] = x ^ 2
Wolfram Language code: f[2.]
Wolfram Language code: f[a]

Scope  (2)

Pick out integers or reals:

Wolfram Language code: Cases[{5.6, 5 / 6, 5, 6, x}, _Integer | _Real]

Replace in an association using alternative patterns:

Wolfram Language code: <|2 -> x|> /. (<|1 -> a_|> | <|2 -> a_|>) :> a
Wolfram Research (1991), Alternatives, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), Alternatives, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "Alternatives." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). Alternatives. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_alternatives, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Alternatives}", year="1991", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_alternatives, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Alternatives}, year={1991}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Alternatives.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}